$5bn plan for Caloundra South ticks green, jobs boxes

IT'S official - the massive $5 billion Caloundra South development will not only create thousands of jobs, but will deliver huge environmental benefits.

Stockland's masterplanned Caloundra South community has won the support of respected environmental accreditation body the Green Building Council of Australia, which has awarded the project a 6-Star Green Star Communities rating.

The GBCA says the Caloundra South project will:

Install the most advanced water recycling, filtration, storage and treatment system ever seen in any Australian city.

Rehabilitate more than 700ha of former pine plantation to create a nature reserve one third the size of the site.

Establish an environmental education facility and run sustainability awareness programs to promote lifelong learning among residents and local school children.

Use hybrid home-business designs in its buildings as well as incubator hubs to foster home-based entrepreneurship.

Ensure accountability through annual environmental reporting on water and biodiversity measures.

GBCA chief executive Romilly Madew said Stockland's 6-Star Green Star accreditation for Caloundra South demonstrated it was possible to undertake a development of "unprecedented scale" and achieve "world-class environmental and social outcomes".

Stockland managing director and CEO Mark Steinert said his team on the Sunshine Coast had spent more than four years working with Australia's leading urban planners, environmental scientists and consultants, and a large number of local environmental groups on the Coast, to develop "the most detailed master plan for any project we've ever undertaken".

Sunshine Coast Environment Council executive officer Wiebe ter Bals said Stockland's achievement was impressive and he was "very happy" for them.